My Little Whoville

Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I'm going to re-overshare a few Christmas memories.  :)

Growing up, my dad put our tree up on Christmas Eve. He'd wrestle it into the stand while speaking the same strange language as the dad in "The Christmas Story." I always helped decorate the tree. After arranging ornaments, we placed tinsel on the tree one strand at a time. Our tree topper is to the right—the beard hair came from Santa himself (haircut clippings).

My dad and sisters went to Midnight Mass each year--they were in the choir. After my chores, I made macaroni bracelets (or something) for my sisters, cards for my parents, and tried to play Christmas music on my grandpa’s ancient electric organ (we had a “by the numbers” guide). A turkey was usually soaking in salt water.

Since Santa had so much ground to cover, my folks told him not to wrap our presents. He created piles--so the excitement was figuring out which pile was yours. I usually got some combination of pants, a shirt, socks or underwear—somehow Santa always knew what I needed most. And there would be THE present. One year it was a doctor's kit. One year a plastic trumpet (no parent would give a noise-maker like that to their son). In the 6th grade I received a chess set.

We visited family during the holidays, including my dad's sister. She made amazing homemade cookies. But before cookies were served, you had to sit and listen to the adults talk for what seemed like hours…often debating the shortest route to places I'd never been. Snore!

Favorite Christmas Memory:
Instead of going to midnight Mass @ 12, I stayed home with my mom. We watched "A Christmas Carol" (1938 version). She let me have eggnog and fruitcake. I like eggnog. I like fruitcake. But combined they made me sick. Despite the upset stomach, that night with my mom is one of my favorite Christmas memories.  Not too many years later I got engaged after a Midnight Mass--killing two birds with one stone.  :)

Least Favorite Christmas Memory:
Taking tinsel off the tree! My father wanted to keep the tinsel to re-use the next year. So we had to take it all off one strand at a time. The tinsel was older than I was.

Christmas as an Adult:
The tree goes up mid-month with no hassle--on the 15th this year. Santa wraps presents, even though I've asked him not to. When we get together with family I start conversations about the best way to get to a particular place…to keep the tradition alive and to annoy the kids a little. They’ve heard the story and know why I do it.

Hopefully this Christmas season will create new fond memories for my family and I hope it does the same for my friends. Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you and your loved ones the peace and joy of the season!!!